Anaheim wants to move Sykora Rumours out there that Murray may go to Toronto so fill in the rest

To Anaheim:
???????

To Toronto:
Murray

To Boston:
Sykora

or is this more likely???

To Anaheim:
Murray

To Boston:
Sykora

To Anaheim :

Berg
Samsonov
Antropov

They get some young talent in Samsonov, size in Antropov, and a serviceable d-man in Berg. Berg can replace Salei on the blueline to an extent, while Samsonov has the speed and skill that Brian Burke loves. Antropov gives some size down the middle which they don't have now. They stay at roughly the same salary level.

To Boston :
Sykora
Czerkawski
Klee
Toronto 2nd rounder

They get a high round draft pick, are no longer on the hook for Murrays long contract but still get some scoring ability back for this season in Sykora. Shore up a shoddy looking defenceman with Klee who is only there for a year, plus a winger in Czerkawski who can put the puck in the net when he feels like showing up (only 500K$, big deal.) They tack on about 1.5M$ in salary, but none of it is past this year, leaving them with a lot of money to spend for next season, plus another 2nd rounder.

To Toronto :

Salei
Murray
Anaheim 3rd rounder

Toronto shores up the defensive issues on D with a rock-solid, defensive blueliner in Salei. Murray brings a natural scoring touch, who can play in Antropov's spot along the wing with Allison and Poni. Still taking on about 1.5M$ in salary though, and tied up with Murrays contract for several years.

Would this trade happen? Psh. Nope. Not in a million years. However, realistic trades are impossible to come up with these days... I mean, after the Thornton deal, I don't know WHATS going on

They get some young talent in Samsonov, size in Antropov, and a serviceable d-man in Berg. Berg can replace Salei on the blueline to an extent, while Samsonov has the speed and skill that Brian Burke loves. Antropov gives some size down the middle which they don't have now. They stay at roughly the same salary level.

To Boston :
Sykora
Czerkawski
Klee
Toronto 2nd rounder

They get a high round draft pick, are no longer on the hook for Murrays long contract but still get some scoring ability back for this season in Sykora. Shore up a shoddy looking defenceman with Klee who is only there for a year, plus a winger in Czerkawski who can put the puck in the net when he feels like showing up (only 500K$, big deal.) They tack on about 1.5M$ in salary, but none of it is past this year, leaving them with a lot of money to spend for next season, plus another 2nd rounder.

To Toronto :

Salei
Murray
Anaheim 3rd rounder

Toronto shores up the defensive issues on D with a rock-solid, defensive blueliner in Salei. Murray brings a natural scoring touch, who can play in Antropov's spot along the wing with Allison and Poni. Still taking on about 1.5M$ in salary though, and tied up with Murrays contract for several years.

Would this trade happen? Psh. Nope. Not in a million years. However, realistic trades are impossible to come up with these days... I mean, after the Thornton deal, I don't know WHATS going on

Wow, Boston gets ****ed big time, and Toronto makes out like thieves. Don't like it, sorry.

Wow, Boston gets ****ed big time, and Toronto makes out like thieves. Don't like it, sorry.

I wouldn't necessarily say that - since Boston has long been known for keeping the almighty dollar as their #1 priority, this gross dumping of long-term salary obligations, in a financial landscape that makes ridding yourself of said obligations, could be quite valuable. Samsonov is a UFA next summer, and he likely will want more than Boston is willing to give. His name has been mentioned for years in trade rumors. Murray is quite unhappy with Thornton's trade, which was an enormous part of why he resigned with Boston when Detroit and Toronto were both courting him. Those are two assets they could likely be happy to be rid of in the long term.

In return, they get short term support to make a quasi-run at this season. Sykora can put up points, especially if given first line minutes where Samsonov would have been. Czerkawski could have been a cheap injury replacement on offence if nothing else, while Klee gives a solid defensive presence on a blueline that is relying on only Hal Gill as its defensive defenceman (Leetch, Tanabe, Slegr, and Stuart are all offensive d-men... and Boynton has a broken knee cap) Klee would be a perfect addition, as it would allow them to possibly make a deadline move to acquire yet another high round draft pick for the likes of Leetch, or a mid-to-low round pick for Slegr. All these contracts expire as of July 1, 2006, so this gives them renewed financial freedom to try again next year - as well as a nice high round draft pick.

I would say that yes, in a hockey sense in the short term, they get pretty well hosed... however, in the long term, they could very well end up the winners in a deal like this.

I wouldn't necessarily say that - since Boston has long been known for keeping the almighty dollar as their #1 priority, this gross dumping of long-term salary obligations, in a financial landscape that makes ridding yourself of said obligations, could be quite valuable. Samsonov is a UFA next summer, and he likely will want more than Boston is willing to give. His name has been mentioned for years in trade rumors. Murray is quite unhappy with Thornton's trade, which was an enormous part of why he resigned with Boston when Detroit and Toronto were both courting him. Those are two assets they could likely be happy to be rid of in the long term.

In return, they get short term support to make a quasi-run at this season. Sykora can put up points, especially if given first line minutes where Samsonov would have been. Czerkawski could have been a cheap injury replacement on offence if nothing else, while Klee gives a solid defensive presence on a blueline that is relying on only Hal Gill as its defensive defenceman (Leetch, Tanabe, Slegr, and Stuart are all offensive d-men... and Boynton has a broken knee cap) Klee would be a perfect addition, as it would allow them to possibly make a deadline move to acquire yet another high round draft pick for the likes of Leetch, or a mid-to-low round pick for Slegr. All these contracts expire as of July 1, 2006, so this gives them renewed financial freedom to try again next year - as well as a nice high round draft pick.

I would say that yes, in a hockey sense in the short term, they get pretty well hosed... however, in the long term, they could very well end up the winners in a deal like this.

You're not very familiar with how the Bruins work.

For one, the whole thing about the Bruins valuing the almighty dollar is a misnomer. They spent roughly $50 million on Thornton, Zhamnov and Murray with the thought they were building a legit contender. It was money poorly spent, but that's a different story. Likewise, the B's spent to the cap, and were in the top 1/3 in spending over the past few seasons. So cheap simply doesn't apply here.

Secondly, while you are right in that it would be valuable for the B's to offload such needless long term contracts as that of Glen Murray's, the premise is wrong. The B's will still do the best they can to help their team. If that means holding onto Murray until a better option surfaces, then that's what they do.

Thirdly, the assumptions about Samsonov are also off-base. He has always been an O'Connell favorite and rarely ever has any rumor involving the Mighty Muscovite derived from the Bruins. Chances are more in favor that the B's make a good attempt to re-sign him to a long term deal come January. If they think there is no chance of it, then maybe they will deal him before the deadline. But it won't be for a UFA, you can bank on that.

Giving up Samsonov and Murray for Sykora, Czerkawski and Klee doesn't improve the Bruins this season or help them long term. It makes absolutely no sense and would never happen.